Best Hair-Lightening Shampoos to Brighten Your Hair Naturally

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If your hair is looking dull and lifeless, and you’re not ready to do something as drastic as changing its color with a hair dye, you might want to consider lightening your hair a bit so that it looks more striking. Hair-lightening shampoos are incredibly popular, and if you’re wondering if they really work, the answer is a resounding “yes”. 

In fact, these shampoos work so well that more and more people are deciding to use them, and they can take that drab-looking hair of yours and turn it into something stunning before you know it.

If you’re curious about which of the shampoos has received the highest ratings, keep reading because below are some of the best hair-lightening shampoos currently on the market.

Klorane Shampoo with Chamomile for Blonde Hair

Klorane Shampoo with Chamomile for Blonde Hair - Best Hair-Lightening Shampoos
The advantage of this lightening shampoo is its ability to work on all hair types, including oily and dry hair. It is made for blond to light brown hair and it brightens the hair, enhances the highlights, and contains chamomile so that it is extra-gentle on your hair.
Klorane Shampoo is also free of parabens, silicone, ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide, and it is very reasonably priced. Gentle but powerful, it leaves your hair not just lighter, but also softer and shinier with regular use. It even comes in a smaller travel size if that’s what you need.
It is suitable for natural, color-treated, and highlighted blond to light brown hair.

Pros:

  • Made for blond to light brown hair.
  • Suitable for all hair types, including oily and dry hair.
  • Contains nothing that is harmful or harsh on your hair.
  • Very reasonably priced.
  • Contains chamomile to keep hair soft and shiny.
  • Gentle enough for daily use.
  • Free of paraben, silicone, and sulfate.

Cons:

  • Some complaints about it drying out the hair.

milkshake Sweet Chamomile Shampoo

milkshake Sweet Chamomile Shampoo - Best Hair-Lightening Shampoos
Made specifically for blonde hair, this SLES- and paraben-free shampoo not only enhances your natural hair color but also revives any highlights you have to make your hair look amazing.
milkshake Sweet Chamomile Shampoo is delicate but powerful at the same time, and it contains both chamomile and organic honey so that your hair is softened and revived. It is so delicate, in fact, that even kids can use it, and it is made to do well even with frequent use.
It is also a very affordable hair-lightening shampoo.

Pros:

  • Makes the hair super soft and shiny.
  • Contains natural ingredients such as organic honey, chamomile extract, papaya and apricot extracts.
  • Contains conditioning and moisturizing agents to soften and nourish your hair.
  • Easy to use and can be used frequently.
  • Very reasonably priced.
  • It has a very nice scent.

Cons:

  • None.

Christophe Robin Brightening Shampoo with Chamomile and Cornflower

Christophe Robin Brightening Shampoo with Chamomile and Cornflower​ - Best Hair-Lightening Shampoos
This brightening shampoo is made for color-treated hair, highlighted hair, and natural hair, it contains chamomile and cornflower to lighten and brighten your hair over time and even remove chemical products, silicone, and hard water residue.
In other words, not only does it make your hair lighter, but it makes it healthy as well. It is also so gentle that you can use it every day until your hair is the color or shade you want it to be. Christophe Robin Brightening Shampoo comes in an 8.5-ounce bottle and is priced very reasonably.

Pros:

  • Works for natural hair, highlighted hair, and color-treated hair.
  • Removes harmful products and residue from the hair.
  • Cleanses gently but thoroughly.
  • Gentle enough to be used every day.
  • Contains chamomile and cornflower to soften the hair.
  • Contains no ammonia, paraben, silicone, SLS, or colorant.
  • Vegan, color-safe, and cruelty-free.

Cons:

  • Some people may consider it a bit pricey.

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo Gradual Shampoo

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo Gradual Shampoo
Made specifically for blondes with dry or treated hair, you can get the entire kit of both shampoo and conditioner for a very affordable price. But don’t let the low price fool you.
John Frieda has been making high-quality hair products for decades, and just like the rest of them, this lightening shampoo will not disappoint. It gives you a brighter, more sunlit shade of blonde hair to enjoy, and it contains citrus and chamomile in just the right blend to make your hair lighter and more beautiful.

Pros:

  • Made with chamomile and citrus to lighten and soften the hair.
  • Perfect for blondes with dry or treated hair.
  • Very reasonably priced.
  • Restores moisture to the hair.

Cons:

  • Some claim that it damaged and dried out their hair.
  • Some claim the color became “brassy” instead of light blonde.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Brighter Bundle

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Brighter Bundle

John Frieda does not just make products for blondes, as this shampoo and conditioner set proves. Made specifically for brunettes, these products are made for normal or color-treated hair and work especially well on highlights and lowlights.

Your hair gains a special glow while it’s being lightened up, and while the end result is noticeable, it is also a natural-looking result that won’t leave your hair an odd color or too dry. In addition, you get both the shampoo and conditioner for a very reasonable price.

Pros:

  • Works on both normal and treated hair.
  • Very reasonably priced.
  • Leaves your hair a very natural color.
  • Formulated with honey and marigold flower extract.
  • Works especially well on lowlights and highlights.
  • Very affordable set.
  • Smells amazing.

Cons:

  • Some claim they noticed no difference in the color of their hair.

Joico Blonde Life Brightening Shampoo

Joico Blonde Life Brightening Shampoo - Best Hair-Lightening Shampoos

Free of sulfates and other damaging ingredients, this brightening shampoo made for blonde hair comes in three different sizes and both highlights and softens the hair.

It is very affordable, and it works up into a great lather to give your hair a good cleaning. It also helps hair become lighter and brighter, as well as softer, stronger, and much shinier in the end.

Joico Blonde Life Brightening Shampoo is enriched with natural, powerful ingredients such as arginine, monoi oil, and tamanu oil; it is suitable for natural and color-treated blond hair.

Pros:

  • Very affordable.
  • Great lather cleans dirt and oil from hair strands.
  • Suitable for natural and color-treated blond hair.
  • Makes hair shinier and softer.
  • Helps repair damaged hair, fights frizz, and adds hydration.
  • Very gentle on your hair.

Cons:

  • None.

L’ANZA Healing Colorcare Silver Brightening Shampoo

L’ANZA Healing Colorcare Silver Brightening Shampoo

If your hair is silver, gray, white, blonde, or even highlighted and you wish to go lighter, this is the shampoo for you.

L’ANZA Healing Colorcare Silver Brightening Shampoo makes the hair shine, lessens any unwanted warm tones, and makes it both shinier and healthier. The lavender and viola help eliminate any brassy color, and it is sulfate-free and therefore very gentle on your hair. In addition, the shampoo just plain works!

Pros:

  • Perfect for shades of gray, white, and blonde.
  • Perfect for natural, and color-treated hair.
  • Free of harsh ingredients.
  • Contains lavender and viola for extra softness.
  • Eliminates unwanted tones and brassiness.
  • Gentle enough to use every day.
  • Sulfate​-free and color-safe.

Cons:

  • Some claim it didn’t work on their hair.

Hair-lightening Shampoos Vs. Hair Dye

Hair-lightening shampoos are not the same thing as hair dye. Hair dye gives you a brand-new hair color instantly, whereas lightening shampoos work overtime and lighten the hair gradually. In fact, in most cases, it will take you several months of use before your hair is light enough for your satisfaction. Not days or weeks, but months.

 Another thing you have to consider is that the change in your hair color is never as drastic as using a hair dye. Instead, you should expect a change of about two to three tones lighter and no more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions - Best Hair-Lightening Shampoos

Q: How Do You Use Hair-lightening Shampoos?

A: Lightening shampoos are used just like regular shampoo. Most, in fact, are gentle enough to use every day if that is how often you shampoo your hair. That being said, make sure you read the directions of the shampoo before you buy it so you’ll know for sure.

Q: How Long Do Hair-Lightening Shampoos Take to Work?

A: Most lightening shampoos take a minimum of three months to see the effect you want. Some may take longer, but three to four months is the average amount of time it takes to get your hair lighter and brighter.

Q: Can Shampoo Lighten Hair Color?

A: It can indeed. The way it works is simple. Lightening shampoo does two things to get rid of dull-colored hair: it removes residue buildups in the hair, and it reduces or eliminates the pigment in the hair strands, which is what makes your hair that particular color.

Q: Do Hair-lightening Shampoos Work on Dark Hair?

A: You can use lightening shampoo on dark hair, but you must make sure it is specifically made for your hair color. If you have gray or brunette hair, a lightening shampoo made for blondes won’t work on you.

Q: Can You Use John Frieda Go Blonder on Dyed Hair?

A: Yes, you can. This is because John Frieda Go Blonder contains nothing to dry out the hair, including peroxide and ammonia. It is safe for color-treated, highlighted, and natural hair.

Conclusion

If you want your hair a few shades lighter, you don’t have to visit a professional hairdresser. All you have to do is choose one of the hair-lightening shampoos listed in this article, they all have natural ingredients and have been proven to deliver great results.

Though most of these shampoos are made for blonde hair, you can find others that are made for people with gray, white, highlighted, and brunette hair. Most of them are both easy to find and affordable, so you can soon be on your way to lighter hair.

Judy Rose

Hi, it’s Judy!

I’m a passionate skincare specialist and writer. I have more than 7 years of experience as a beauty, fashion, and lifestyle writer and editor, and I’m extremely passionate about what I do.